No Matter- a poem by Andrea

No Matter

In your neighborhood,

On the other side of town,

If you're a student of the street, 

If you've been K through college educated,

      you could be killed.

If you're doing something wrong,

If you've never been in trouble at all,

If you do not comply,

If you do as you are told,

     you could be killed.

If you have a weapon,

If you can show that you don't,

A drink in your hand,

A cellphone in your coat,

     you could be killed.

If you call for help,

If someone else does,

If, in fear, you run,

If you stay with hands raised,

     you could be killed.

If you're a citizen with a birthright,

If you're a visitor to this great land,

If you're enslaved by circumstances,

If you feel free enough to pursue the dream,

     you could be killed.

If you are a man,

If you are a woman,

If you are old,

Even if you are a child,

     you could be killed.

Especially, if you are black.

And some will 

whisper ifs to themselves,
or say out loud

No matter.  

It's your own fault

     you could be killed.
No one needs to pay.

No matter what some will say,

If you know and make it known,

that
       your body, your soul, your voice
do matter

One day
in this country

      you could live
free.

-Andrea, a mother's vocal expression of confusion, fear, anger and pain

July 7, 2016

America